Process for the finishing of textiles

ABSTRACT

1. A SUBSTANTIALLY ANHYDROUS PROCESS FOR RENDERING WOOLEN TEXTILES NON-FELTING WHICH COMPRISES (A) FORMING THE REACTION PRODUCT OF (I) A BASIC POLYAMIDE WITH (A&#39;&#39;) AN EPOXIDE, THE EQUIVALENT RATIO OF EPOXIDE TO POLYAMIDE BEING FROM 1:1 TO 1:5 OR (B&#39;&#39;) AN ALKYL ETHER OF AN AMINOPLAST PRECONDENSATE, THE EQUIVALENT RATIO OF AMINOPLAST PRECONDENSATE TO BASIC POLYAMIDE BEING FROM 1:0.11 TO 1:1.45 OR (C&#39;&#39;) AN EPOXIDE-POLYMERIC UNSATURATED FATTY ACID REACTION PRODUCT, THE EQUIVALENT RATIO OF EPOXIDE TO POLYAMIDE BEING FROM 1:1 TO 1:5 OR (II) AN EPOXIDE-ORGANIC CARBOXYLIC ACID REACTION PRODUCT, WHEREIN THE EPOXIDE IS NORMALLY LIQUID AT ROOM TEMPERATURE AND IS DERIVED FROM A POLYHYDRIC PHENOL, A POLYPHENOL OR A BISPHENOL, WITH (A&#34;) AN AMINE OR (B&#34;) AN AMINO-PEROXIDE REACTION PRODUCT (B) MIXING SAID REACTION PRODUCT WITH A WATER-INSOLUBLE ORGANIC SOLVENT AND SURFACE-ACTIVE DISPERSING AGENT, THE RESULTING MIXTURE CONTAINING FROM 0.5 TO 5% BY WEIGHT OF SAID REACTION PRODUCT BASED ON THE TEXTILE TO BE TREATED (C) IMPREGNATING THE TEXTILE WITH SAID MIXTURE AND THEREAFTER DRYING THE TREATED TEXTILE AND HEATING AT 40 TO 200*C TO FIX THE COATING.

United States Patent 3,843,396 PROCESS FOR THE FINISHING OF TEXTILES Volkmar Mueller, Arlesheim, and Rosemarie Toepll, Basel, Switzerland, assignors to Ciba-Geigy AG, Basel, Switzerland No Drawing. Continuation of abandoned application Ser. No. 86,602, Nov. 3, 1970. This application Sept. 11, 1972, Ser. No. 287,953 Claims priority, application Switzerland, Nov. 10, 1969, 16,658/69 Int. Cl. D06m 3/02 U.S. Cl. 117-141 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A process for the finishing of textiles, especially for rendering wool non-felting is provided. This process is performed with preparations containing a water-insoluble organic solvent, a reaction product and a surface-active dispersing agent which is soluble in the organic solvent. The reaction products are either of a basic polyamide and an epoxide, aminoplast precondensate ether or epoxide-polymeric fatty acid reaction product, or of an epoxide-organic acid reaction product and an amine or amine-epoxide reaction product. After removal of the solvent the textiles may be subjected to an after-treatment at room temperature or elevated temperaure. Preferably this process is carried out according to the exhaustion method. Good and during non-felting effects are obtained on the treated textiles.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 86,602, filed Nov. 3, 1970, now abandoned.

The subject of the invention is a process for the finishing of textiles, especially for rendering wool non-felting, characterised in that textiles are treated with a preparation which (1) in a water-insoluble organic solvent, contains (2) a reaction product of (a) (a') a basic polyamide and (a") an epoxide, an alkyl ether of an aminoplast precondensate or an epoxide-polymeric unsaturated fatty acid reaction product, or (b) (b') an epoxide-organic carboxylic acid reaction product and (b") an amine or amino-epoxide reaction product and (3) a surface-active dispersing agent which is soluble in organic solvents, that the solvent is subsequently removed from the textiles thus treated, and that thereafter the textiles, if desired, are subjected to an after-treatment at room temperature or at elevated temperature.

Preferably, the exhaustion process is here used. As a rule it suffices if the preparation for the non-felting treatment is allowed to act on the textiles for 15 to 60 minutes at a temperature of to 80 C., preferably to C. An addition of a low molecular aliphatic carboxylic acid, such as for example formic acid or acetic acid, to the treatment bath at a concentration of up to 20 mL/Iitre has proved useful in many cases, especially in the case of a combined application together with optical brighteners. It is advantageous if, subsequent to this treatment and after the solvents have been removed from the treated textiles, for example by centrifuging, the textiles are subjected to an after-treatment, for example by storing at room temperature for 2 to 10 days or to a heat treatment at preferably 40 to 200 C., especially 80 C., for 60 to 15 minutes, especially 60 minutes.

If desired, the preparation which is used for the finishing can contain yet further additives, such as for example other textile finishing agents, for example optical brighteners or agents for imparting a soft handle.

The wool to be finished can be in any desired state of processing, for example in the form of slubbing, yarn or garments, such as pullovers.

Further, it is also possible to use a combined process for dyeing wool and rendering it non-felting, in which, simultaneously or subsequently in optional sequence, us ing the exhaustion method, the wool is on the one hand dyed and on the other hand treated with the preparations according to the invention. Dyeing and rendering nonfelting can thereby in a simple manner be combined and carried out in the same apparatus, without the wool being taken out of the apparatus between the two processes.

Dyeing can here be carried out in the usual manner which is in itself known, using any desired dyestuffs which can be used for wool. Equally, the additives which are customary in dyeing Wool can be employed, such as levelling agents, for example polyglycol compounds of higher aliphatic amines.

The amount of the reaction product (2) (not including solvent), relative to the weight of the wool, is appropriately 0.5 to 5%, preferably 1.2 to 3%.

The sequence of the two processes is optional, but in general it tends to be advantageous to carry out dyeing first and the non-felting treatment subsequently, though it is also possible to carry out dyeing and the non-felting treatment simultaneously using the same bath.

From amongst the numerous organic solvents, only water-soluble solvents can be used for carrying out the present process, that is to say solvents which at 20 C. only take up very small amounts of water, for example 0.01 to 1% by weight. The following are for example suitable: petrol hydrocarbons, such as petrol ether; benzene and halogenated benzenes or benzenes substituted by lower alkyl groups, such as toluene, ethylbenzene, cumene or xylene; alicyclic hydrocarbons such as Tetralin or cyclohexane; or, especially, halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons. Preferred halogenated alpihatic hydrocarbons are above all the solvents used in the dry cleaning industry, such as methylene chloride, methylene bromide, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, ethylene chloride, ethylene bromide, 1,1,l-trichloroethane, s-tetrachloroethane or especially trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene.

Mixtures of the solvents mentioned can also be used.

As component (2), a reaction product of (a) (a') a basic polyamide from polymeric, unsaturated fatty acids and polyalkylenepolyamines, and (a.") an epoxide or an aminoplast precondensate containing alkyl ether groups, or (b) (b') a reaction product of an epoxide, which per molecule contains at least 2 epoxide groups, and an organic carboxylic acid, which per molecule contains at least 2 carboxyl groups, and (b"') an amine containing at least two amino groups or a reaction product of an amine containing at least 2 amino groups per molecule with an epoxide containing at least 2 epoxide groups per molecule, is preferably used.

The reaction products used as component (2) are especially one of the following 3 types:

1. Reaction products of epoxides and amino compounds, which are obtained by reacting epoxides in an equivalent ratio of 1:1 to 1:5 with basic polyamides from polymeric, preferably dimeric to trimeric, unsaturated fatty acids and polyalkylenepolyamines in the presence of organic solvents at temperatures of at most C., to give polyaddition compounds which are soluble or dispersible in water, and ensuring, through the addition of acid, not later than on completion of the reaction, that a sample of the reaction mixture has a pH-value of 2 to 8 after addition of water.

2. Reaction products of aminoplast precondensates and amino compounds, which are obtained by reacting aminoplast precondensates' containing alkyl-ether groups, in the presence of organic solvents, with basic polyamides from polymeric, preferably dimeric, unsaturated fatty acids and polyalkylenepolyamines to give water-soluble compounds, and ensuring, through the addition of acid, not later than immediately on completion of the reaction, that a sample of the reaction mixture has a pH-value of 2 to 8, preferably 2 to 7, after addition of water.

3. Reaction products of epoxides and amines, which are obtained by reacting (a) a reaction product of at least (a') one epoxide which contains at least two epoxide groups per molecule, and at least (a") one organic car boxylic acid, which contains at least 2 carboxyl groups per molecule, with the equivalent ratio of epoxide groups to acid groups being 120.1 to 120.8, with (b)(b') an amine containing at least two amino groups, wherein the amino groups each possess at least one hydrogen atom bonded to nitrogen, or (b") a reaction product of component (b') with an epoxide, which per molecule contains at least two epoxide groups and wherein the equivalent ratio of hydrogen, bonded to amine nitrogen, to epoxide groups is 3:1 to 11:1, in the presence of an organic solvent, the equivalent ratio of epoxide groups to hydrogen bonded to amine nitrogen being 1:2 to 1:10, and ensuring, through addition of acid, not later than on completion of the reaction, that a sample of the reaction mixture has a pH-value of 2 to 8 after dilution with water.

The epoxides which are used for the manufacture of the reaction products of type 1 and 3 to be used according to the invention are as a rule liquid at room temperature, that is to say at to C., and are preferably derived from polyhydric phenols or polyphenols, such as resorcinol, phenolformaldehyde condensation products of the type of the resols, or novolacs. Bisphenols, such as bis-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-methane and above all 2, 2 bis-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-propane, are especially preferred as starting compounds for the manufacture of the epoxide.

Epoxides of 2,2-bis-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-propane, which have an epoxide content of 3.8 to 5.8 epoxide group equivalents/kg, but preferably at least 5 epoxide group equivalents/kg, and which correspond to the formula wherein 2 denotes an average number having a value of 0 to 0.65, may here be particularly mentioned. Such epoxides are obtained by reacting epichlorohydrin with 2,2-bis- (4'-hydroxyphenyl -propane.

Suitable polymeric unsaturated fatty acids for the manufacture of the basic polyamides, which in turn are used for the manufacture of reaction products of type 1 and 2 to be used according to the invention, are above all aliphatic, ethylenically unsaturated dimeric to trimeric fatty acids. Preferably, aliphatic unsaturated dimeric to trimeric fatty acids which are derived from monocarboxylic acids with 16 to 22 carbon atoms, are used. These monocarboxylic acids are fatty acids with at least one, preferably 2 to 5, ethylenically unsaturated bonds. Representatives of this class of acids are, for example, oleic acid, hiragonic acid, eleostearic acid, licanic acid, arachidonic acid, clupanodonic acid and especially linoleic acid and linolenic acid. These fatty acids can be obtained from natural oils, wherein they occur above all as glycerides.

The dimeric to trimeric fatty acids used according to the invention are obtained in a known manner by dimerisatio'n of monocarboxylic acids of the indicated nature. The so-called dimeric fatty acids always contain some trimeric acids and a small amount of monomeric acids.

Particularly suitable fatty acids are dimerised to trimerised linoleic acid or linolenic acid. The technical products of these acids as a rule contain 75 to by Weight of dimeric acid, 4 to 25 percent by weight of trimeric acid and from a trace to 3% of monomeric acid. The molar ratio of dimeric to trimeric acid is accordingly about 5:1 to 36:1.

The basic polyamides are obtained by condensation of these polymeric fatty acids, especially of the dimerised to trimerised linoleic or linolenic acid, with polyamines, especially aliphatic polyamines such as diethylenetriamine, triethylenetetramine and tetraethylenepentamine, that is to say amines of formula wherein n is equal to 1, 2 or 3 and can, in the case of mixtures, also assume a non-integral average value, for example between 1 and 2. These polyamides must be basic, and this is achieved by employing an excess of amino groups (HgN- and alkylene-NH-alkylene) in comparison to the carboxylic acid groups during the polyamide condensation.

The aminoplast precondensates which serve as starting substances for the manufacture of the reaction products of type 2 are completely, or especially partially, etherified methylol compounds of nitrogen-containing substances which form aminoplastics, such as urea and urea deriva tives, for example ethyleneurea, propyleneurea and glyoxalrnonourein.

Preferably, etherified methylolaminotriazines are employed, such as for example alkyl ethers of highly methylolated melamine, of which the alkyl radicals contain 1 to 4 carbon atoms. Possible alkyl radicals are, amongst others, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl and nhexyl radicals. In addition to such alkyl radicals, further radicals, for example polyglycol radicals, can also be present in the molecule. Furthermore, n-butyl ethers of a highly methylolated melamine, containing 2 to 3 butyl groups in the molecule, are preferred. By highly methylolated melamines there are here to be understood those with an average of at least 5, and appropriately about 5.5, methylol groups.

Suitable organic carboxylic acids, with at least 2 carboxyl groups per molecule, for the manufacture of the reaction products of type 3 are above all aliphatic, ethylenically unsaturated, dimeric to trimeric fatty acids, such as are used for the manufacture of the basic polyamides. In addition it is also possible to use aliphatic dicarboxylic acids with 2 to 10, preferably 4 to 10, carbon atoms, or aromatic, preferably monocyclic aromatic, dicarboxylic acids.

As aliphatic dicarboxylic acids, alkylenedicarboxylic acids with 4 to 10 carbon atoms are above all of interest, such as for example succinic acid, adipic acid, azaleic acid or sebacic acid. Further possible aliphatic dicarboxylic acids are also oxalic acid, fumaric acid or maleic acid. Preferred aromatic dicarboxylic acids are benzenedicarboxylic acids, such as phthalic acid or terephthalic acid.

Dicarboxylic acids such as maleic acid or phthalic acid are preferably reacted as the acid anhydrides with the epoxide.

The diamines to be used in the manufacture of the reaction products of type 3 can be aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, heterocyclic or aromatic and preferably possess at least one primary amino group and a second amino group wherein at least one hydrogen atom is bonded to nitrogen. Particularly suitable heterocyclic or aromatic amines are, for example, piperazines, such as N,N-bis(3- amino-propyl)-piperazine, or phenylamines, such as bis (3-methyl-4-aminophenyl) methane. However, di-primary aliphatic or cycloaliphatic amines are preferred.

Suitable aliphatic amines are here above all polyamines, such as have been described for the manufacture of the basic polyamides.

Suitable cycloaliphatic amines are above alll (Ii-primary, cycloaliphatic diamines, which apart from the two. amine nitrogen atoms only contain carbon and hydrogen and which possess a saturated S-membered to 6-membered carbocyclic ring, an H N group bonded to a ring carbon atom, and an H NCH group bonded to another ring carbon atom.

As examples of such amines, 3,5,5-trimethyl-l-amino- 3-aminomethyl-cyclohexane or 1 amino-2-aminomethylcyclo-pentane may be mentioned.

The amine can now be employed by itself or as a reaction product with an epoxide, for the manufacture of reaction products of type 3. Here, the same epoxides can be used as are employed for the manufacture of the reaction products with the organic carboxylic acids or of the reaction products of type 1. Since the equivalent ratio of amino groups to epoxide groups in component (b") is 3 to 5.5 to 1, the amino groups are always present in excess, and epoxide groups can no longer be detected in the amine-epoxide reaction product (b"). The epoxides used for the manufacture of the component (b") therefore do not influence the equivalent ratio of epoxide groups to hydrogen, bonded to amine nitrogen, of 1:2 to 1:10 in the end product from components (a) and (b).

In the manufacture of the reaction products of type 1, the epoxides are reacted with the basic polyamides in the equivalent ratio of 1:1 to 1:5. By one epoxide group equivalent there is to be understood the amount of epoxide in grams, which is equivalent to one mol of monoepoxy compound, and by one amino group equivalent there is to be understood the amount of basic polyamide equivalent to one mol of monoamine. The equivalent values can be determined in a known manner.

The polyaddition products of epoxides and polyamides can also be obtained, if desired, with the conjoint use of a third component, namely a monofunctional compound. These monofunctional compounds possess a mobile halgen atom or a vinyl, acid, ester, acid anhydride, isocyanate or epoxide group as functional groups or atoms.

The aminoplast precondensates are reacted with the basic polyamides in the equivalent ratio of 1:0.11 to 1:1.45 when manufacturing the reaction products of type 2. In the case of the aminoplast precondensates, an equivalent is to be understood as the quotient of the molecular weight and the total number of methylol groups (free plus etherified) present in the molecule. The amount of basic polyamide equivalent to one mol of monoamine corresponds to one amino equivalent. Thus, for example, one mol of methylol compound containing an average of 5.5 (partially etherified) methylol groups is reacted with the amount of basic polyamide corresponding to 0.6 to 8 amino equivalent values.

When manufacturing the reaction products of type 3, yet a third component (a') can optionally be used conjointly. This component (a') is an alcohol possessing at least two hydroxyl groups. Aliphatic dihydroxy compounds, such as ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol or alkylenediols, for example 1,4-butanediol, are preferred.

The reaction products to be used according to the invention are manufactured in the presence of organic solvents.

Suitable organic solvents are here primarily watersoluble organic solvents.

Dioxane, isopropanol, ethanol and methanol, ethylene glycol-n-butyl ether (:n-butylglycol) and diethylene glycolmonobutyl ether may be mentioned as examples.

At the same time it is, however, also possible to carry out the reaction in the presence of water-insoluble organic solvents, the same solvents as those from which the application to the textiles is subsequently effected.

As surface-active agents for the manufacture of the preparation of the reaction products, to be used according to the invention, anionic or non-ionic surface-active compounds are advantageously used, it being necessary to ensure that these possess good solubility in the organic solvents which are used for the finishing process. Addition products of ethylene oxide to long-chain amines,

alcohols, phenols or fatty acid esters are above all of special interest.

Suitable representatives of surface-active compounds furthermore belong to the following types of compound:

(a) Ethers of polyhydroxy compounds, such as polyoxalkylated fatty alcohols, polyoxalkylated polyols, polyoxalkylated mercaptans and aliphatic amines, polyoxalkylated alkylphenols and alkylnaphthols, polyoxalkylated alkylarylmercaptans and alkylarylamines; further, the corresponding esters of these compounds with polybasic acids, such as sulphuric acid or phosphoric acid, optitinally also in the form of ammonium salts or amine sa ts.

(b) Fatty acid esters of the ethylene and polyethylene glycols, as well as of propylene and butylene glycol, of glycerine or of the polyglycerines and of pentaerythritol, and also of sugar alcohols, such as sorbitol.

(c) N-Hydroxyalkyl carbonamides, polyoxalkylated carbonamides and sulphonamides.

As advantageously usable dispersing agents from these groups, there may for example be mentioned: the monoethanolamine salt of the phosphoric acid ester of the addition product of oleyl alcohol and 6 mols of ethylene oxide; the ammonium salt of the acid sulphuric acid ester of the addition product of 17 mols of ethylene oxide to oleyl alcohol, and the addition product of 4 mols of ethylene oxide to nonylphenol; the addition product of 8 mols of ethylene oxide to 1 mol of p-tert.-octylphenol, of 15 or 6 mols of ethylene oxide to castor oil, and of 20 mols of ethylene oxide to the alcohol C H OH, the ethylene oxide addition product to di[a-phenylethyH-phenols, polyethylene oxide-tert.-dodecylthioethers, polyamine-polyglycolethers, addition products of 15 or 30 mols of ethylene oxide to 1 mol of amine C H NH or C H NH oleic acid triethylene glycol esters, oleic acid-polyethylene glycol ZOO-esters, oleic acid-polyethylene glycol 400-esters, the adducts of 1 mol of oleic acid to 4 or 5 mols of ethylene oxide, and the adduct of 4 mols of ethylene oxide to 1 mol of oleic acid sorbitane ester and sorbitane monolaurate, sorbitane monopalmitate and sorbitane monostearate.

Mixtures of the surface-active compounds mentioned are also suitable.

The preparations to be used according to the invention are appropriately prepared by stirring the reaction products into the water-insoluble organic solvent in the presence of the dispersing agent. As a rule the reaction product, which is preferably obtained as an organic solution when manufactured, is dissolved or diluted, before being dispersed, by means of a polar solvent such as a lower alkanol, for example ethanol or especially methanol. Stable dispersions are thereby always obtained. The initially mentioned addition of low molecular carboxylic acids to the treatment bath is preferably made before the addition of the reaction product.

A further possibility consists of first working the reaction product into a dough with the surface-active agent and then to introduce this into the water-insoluble solvent, whilst stirring.

Good and durable non-felting effects are thus obtained on the treated textiles by means of the process according to the invention. The process has the advantage that it is carried out in the weakly acid to neutral range and not in the alkaline range.

A further advantage in the process according to the invention is based on the fact that it is possible to work by the exhaustion process, which gives a much more uniform finish than when working with non-substantive products by the dip roller or spray process.

In the manufacturing instructions and examples which follow, percentages are percentages by weight.

Manufacturing Instructions A. 98.8 g. of a polyamide from polymerised linoleic acid and diethylenetriamine, with an amine equivalent weight of 247, are dissolved in 53 g. of n-butylglycol, and the solution warmed to 50 C. internal temperature. A solution of 19.1 g. of an epoxide formed from 2,2-bis-(4'- hydroxy-phenyl)-propane and epichlorohydrin having an epoxide equivalent weight of 191, in 53 g. of n-butylglycol, is then added dropwise over the course of 30 minutes. 45 minutes thereafter, a sample gives a clear solution in glacial acetic acid/water (2:19). 15 g. of glacial acetic acid and 335 g. of perchloroethylene are now added and the mixture is further stirred until cold. A mobile solution of 20% solids content is obtained.

B. 49.4 g. of a polyamide according to Instruction A, together with 67.6 g. of an 80% strength solution of hexamethylolmelamine-dibutyl ether and hexamethylolmelaminetributyl ether in n-butanol, are dissolved in 94 g. of n-butylglycol, and the solution is warmed to 80 C. internal temperature. 8 hours thereafter, a sample gives an opalescent solution in glacial acetic acid/ water (1:10). 12 g. of glacial acetic acid, 82 g. of n-butylglycol and 200 g. of perchloroethylene are now added and the mixture is further stirred until cold. A clear solution of medium viscosity and of 20% solids content is obtained.

C. 110 g. of an epoxide according to Instruction A (0.576 epoxide group equivalent) together with 88 g. of polymerised linoleic acid (0.314 acid group equivalent) are warmed for 2 hours to 150 C. internal temperature, whilst stirring. A highly viscous, clear product with an epoxide group equivalent weight of 758 and an acid number of 3 is obtained. 91.1 g. of this epoxide are dissolved in 90 g. of n-butylglycol and the solution warmed to 54 C. internal temperature. A solution of 14.6 g. of triethylenetetramine in 15 g. of n-butylglycol is then added dropwise over the course of 40 minutes. 20 minutes thereafter, a sample gives a clear solution in glacial acetic acid/water (1:10). 18 g. of glacial acetic acid, 87 g. of butylglycol and 200 g. of perchloroethylene are now added, and the mixture is further stirred until cold. A mobile, clear solution of 20% solids content is obtained.

D. (a) 95.5 g. of an epoxide formed from 2,2-bis-(4'- hydroxyphenyl) propane and epichlorohydrin epoxide equivalent) together with 14.6 g. of adipic acid (0.2 acid equivalent) are warmed for 2 hours to 150 C. internal temperature. A highly viscous, clear product with an epoxide equivalent weight of 472 and an acid number of 0 is obtained.

(b) 173.6 g. (=1.02 mol) of 1-amino-3-aminomethyl- 3,5,S-trimethyl-cyclohexane are initially introduced into a stirred vessel and warmed at 100 C., under nitrogen. 76.4 g. of an epoxide formed from 2,2-bis-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)- propane and epichlorohydrin (=04 epoxide equivalent) are added over the course of 30 minutes whilst stirring, the reaction temperature being kept at between 110 and 120 C. After a further 30 minutes, 120 g. of n-butylglycol are added. After allowing the mixture to cool whilst stirring, a clear solution of medium viscosity is obtained. The amino group content of this solution is 3.95 equivalents/kg.

101.2 g. of the solution from (b) (=0.4 amine equivalent) are warmed to 55 C. internal temperature, and a solution of 47.2 g. (=0.1 epoxide equivalent) of the epoxide described under (a) and 47 .2 g. of n-butylglycol is then allowed to run in over the course of 1 hour. 40 minutes thereafter, a sample gives a clear solution in glacial acetic acid:water=1:15. 24 g. of glacial acetic acid and 260 g. of butylglycol are now added and the mixture is further stirred until cold. A clear, mobile solution of 20% solids content is obtained.

Example 1 3 g. of a preparation according to Instruction A, dissolved in 30 ml. of ethanol, are added to a solution of g. of an adduct of 1 mol of p-tert.-nonylphenol and 5 mols of ethylene oxide in 970 ml. of perchloroethylene, whilst stirring. 30 g. of wool yarn are treated for 60 minutes at 40 C. with the stable dispersion thus obtained. After removing excess liquor by. centrifuging, drying and fixing takes place over the course of a further hour at C. The wool yarn treated in this way has a non-felting finish. Example 2 6 g. of a preparation according to Instruction B, dissolved in 50 ml. of methanol, are added to a solution of 10 g. of an adduct of 1 mol of p-tert.-nonylphenol and 5 mols of ethylene oxide in 950 ml. of perchloroethylene, whilst stirring. 60 g. of wool yarn are treated for 40 minutes at 65 C. with the stable dispersion thus obtained. After removing excess liquor by centrifuging, drying and fixing takes place over the course of 50 minutes at 80 C.

The wool yarn treated in this way has a non-felting finish.

A non-felting finish of similar quality is obtained if instead of perchloroethylene 1,1,1-trichloroethane is used as the solvent.

Example 3 4 g. of a preparation according to Instruction C, together with 0.4 g. of an optical brightener of formula and 5 g. of glacial acetic acid are Worked into a dough with 5 g. of an adduct of 1 mol of p-tert.-nonylphenol and 5 mols of ethylene oxide, and this mixture is then made up to 1000 ml. with trichloroethylene. Brief stirring yields a stable dispersion, with which 40 g. of bleached wool yarn are treated for 30 minutes at 70 C. After r'emoving excess liquor by centrifuging, drying and fixing takes place over the course of a further 45 minutes at 80 C. The wool yarn treated in this way has a non-felting finish and is optically brightened.

Example 4 30 g. of a preparation according to one of Instructions A to D together with 60 g. of one of the surface-active agents of the composition given below are worked into a dough and diluted to 6000 ml. with high-boiling petrol (boiling range 155 to 195 C.). Brief stirring yields a stable dispersion. 300 g. of a knitted woollen piece are treated with this liquor for 20 minutes at 30 C. After removing the liquor by centrifuging, the piece is dried and the finish is fixed over the course of 3 days at room temperature. The knitted piece is non-felting.

The following products are used as surface-active agents:

I: Condensation product of 1 mol of coconut fatty acid and 2 mols of diethanolamine, containing about 2% of Water and 2% of acetic acid.

II: Acid phosphoric acid ester of a condensation product of 1 mol of 2-ethylhexanol and 5 mols of ethylene oxide, neutralised with sodium hydroxide, in the form of an 80% strength aqueous solution.

III: Aqueous solution containing: 38.5% of an oleic acid polyglycol ester, 38.5% of a condensation product of 1 mol of p-tert.-octylphenol and 8 mols of ethylene oxide, and 15.5% of oleic acid.

Example 5 10 g. of a preparation according to one of Instructions A to D are worked into a dough with 15 g. of one of the surface-active agents of the composition indicated in example 4, and this mixture is then diluted to 300 ml. with cyclohexane. g. of a woollen tricot are treated with this liquor for 30 minutes at 45 C. After removing excess liquor by centrifuging and drying, fixing is carried out for 1 minute at C. The woollen tricot is non-felting.

9 Example 6 4 g. of a preparation according to one of Instructions A to :D are worked into a dough with 2 g. of one of the surface-active agents of the composition-indicated in example 4, and this mixture is then dilutedwith perchlorethylene to 460 ml. 20 g. of wool yarn is treated with this liquor for 30 minutes at 30 C. After removing .excess liquor by centrifuging, drying and fixing takes place for 10 minutes at 100 C. The wool yarn is non-felting.

What is claimed is:

1. A substantially anhydrous. process for rendering woolen textiles non-felting which comprises i (a) forming the reaction product of (i) a basic polyamide with (a) an epoxide, the equivalent ratio of epoxide to polyamide being from 1:1 to 1:5

or (b) an alkyl ether of an aminoplast precondensate, the equivalent ratio of aminoplast precondensate to basic polyamide being from 1:0.11 to 1:1.45 or (c) an epoxide-polymeric unsaturated fatty acid reaction product, the equivalent ratio of epoxide to polyamide being from 1:1 to 1:5 or (ii) an epoxide-organic carboxylic acid reaction product, wherein the epoxide is normally liquid at room temperature and is derived from a polyhydric phenol, a polyphenol or a bisphenol, with (a) an amine or (b) an amino-epoxide reaction product (b) mixing said reaction product with a water-insoluble organic solvent and a surface-active dispersing agent, the resulting mixture containing from 0.5 to by weight of said reaction product based on the textile to be treated (c) impregnating the textile with said mixture and thereafter drying the treated textile and heating at 40 to 200 C. to fix the coating.

2. Process according to claim 1, in which the organic solvent comprises petrol hydrocarbons, benzene, halo- Igenated benzenes or benzenes substituted by lower alkyl groups, alicyclic hydrocarbons or halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons.

3. Process according to claim 1, in which reaction product (a) is obtained by reacting aminoplast precondensates containing alkylether groups, in the presence of organic solvents, with basic polyamides from polymeric unsaturated fatty acids and polyalkylenepolyamines to give water-soluble compounds, and ensuring through the addition of acid, not later than immediately on completion of the reaction, that a sample of the reaction mixture has a pH-value of 2 to 8 after addition of water.

4. Process according to claim 1, in which reaction product (a) is obtained by reacting (a) a reaction product of at least (a) one epoxide which contains at least two epoxide groups per molecule, and at least (a) one organic carboxylic acid, which contains at least 2 carboxyl groups per molecule, with the equivalent ratio of epoxide groups to acid groups being 1:0.1 to 1:08, with (b)(b) an amine containing at least two amino groups, wherein the amino groups each possess at least one hydrogen atom bonded to nitrogen, or (b") a reaction product of component (b) with an epoxide, which per molecule contains at least two epoxide groups and wherein the equivalent ratio of hydrogen, bonded to amine nitrogen, to epoxide groups is 3:1 to 11:1, in the presence of an organic solvent, the equivalent ratio of epoxide groups to hydrogen bonded to amine nitrogen being 1:2 to 1: 10, and ensuring, through addition of acid, not later than on com- 5 pletion of the reaction, that a sample of the reaction mixture has a pH-value of 2 to 8 after dilution with water.

5. Process according to'claim 1, characterised in that, as an organo-soluble surface-active dispersing agent, nonionic or anionic compounds are used.

6. A substantially anhydrous process for rendering woolen textiles non-felting which comprises (a) forming the reaction product of (i) a basic polyamide from a polymeric unsaturated fatty acid and a polyalkylenepolyamine with (a) an epoxide, the equivalent ratio of epoxide to polyamide being from 1:1 to 1:5 or (b) an aminoplast precondensate containing alkyl ether groups, the equivalent ratio of aminoplast precondensate to polyamide being from 1:0.11 to 1:1.45 or (ii) an epoxide-organic carboxylic acid reaction product, said epoxide being normally liquid at room temperature, containing at least 2 epoxide groups per molecule and derived from a polyhydric phenol, a polyphenol or bisphenol, said carboxylic acid containing at least 2 carboxyl groups per molecule, and wherein the ratio of epoxide to acid is 1:01 to 1:0.8 with (a") an amine containing at least 2 amino groups or (b") an amine-epoxide reaction product containing at least 2 epoxide groups per mole cule in which the equivalent ratio of hydrogen bound to amine nitrogen to epoxide groups is 3:1 to 11:1, the equivalent ratio of epoxide groups of component (ii) to hydrogen bonded to amine nitrogen of components (a") and (b") is 1:2 to 1:10,

(b) mixing said reaction product with a water-insoluble organic solvent and a surface-active dispersing agent,

resulting mixture containing from 0.5 to 5% by weight of said reaction product based on the textile to be treated,

(c) impregnating the textile with said mixture and there after drying the treated textile and heating at 40 to 200 C. to fix the coating.

7. A process according to claim 6 in which the surface-active dispersing agent comprises the addition product of ethylene oxide to long-chain amines, alcohols, phenols or fatty acid esters.

8. Process according to claim 6, characterised in that the impregnation temperature of step (c) is 20 to 80 C. 9. Process according to claim 1 characterised in that a low molecular aliphatic carboxylic acid is added to the mixture of reaction product, solvent and surface-active dispersing agent.

10. Process according to claim 1, in which the reaction product (a) is obtained by reacting epoxides in an equivalent ratio of 1:1 to 1:5 with basic polyamides from polymeric, unsaturated fatty acids and polyalkylenepolyamines in the presence of organic solvents at temperatures of 50 to at most 80 C., to give polyaddition compound which are soluble or dispersible in water, and ensuring, through the addition of acid, not later than on completion of the reaction, that a sample of the reaction mixture has a pH- value of 2 to 8 after addition of water.

1 1 12 11. Process according to claim 1, characterised in that 3,033,706 5/1962 Pardo et a1. (2) 117-141 X reaction product (a) is dissolved in a polar organic solvent 3,038,820 6/ 1962 Albrecht 117-141 X prior to mixture with the organic solvent in step (b). 3,102,774 9/1963 Koenig 117-141 X 3,441,435 4/1969 Kir'schnek et a1 11 7-141 X References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 2,817,602 12/1957 Pardo 117-141 1,062,185 3/1967 Great i 2,909,448 10/1959 Schroeder 117141 V 2 933 3 6 4 19 0 c 117 141 X 10 WILLIAM D- MARTIN, Prlmary Examlnel' 2,933,409 4/ 1960' Binkley et al 117141 T. G. DAV'IS, Assistant Examiner 2,992,944 7/1961 Binkley -L..- 117141 3,019,076 1/1962 Pardo et a1. (1) 17141 X US. Cl. X.R.

Sherrill et al 117l38.5 X

117-335 T, 139.5 A, 161 P, 1612B 

1. A SUBSTANTIALLY ANHYDROUS PROCESS FOR RENDERING WOOLEN TEXTILES NON-FELTING WHICH COMPRISES (A) FORMING THE REACTION PRODUCT OF (I) A BASIC POLYAMIDE WITH (A'') AN EPOXIDE, THE EQUIVALENT RATIO OF EPOXIDE TO POLYAMIDE BEING FROM 1:1 TO 1:5 OR (B'') AN ALKYL ETHER OF AN AMINOPLAST PRECONDENSATE, THE EQUIVALENT RATIO OF AMINOPLAST PRECONDENSATE TO BASIC POLYAMIDE BEING FROM 1:0.11 TO 1:1.45 OR (C'') AN EPOXIDE-POLYMERIC UNSATURATED FATTY ACID REACTION PRODUCT, THE EQUIVALENT RATIO OF EPOXIDE TO POLYAMIDE BEING FROM 1:1 TO 1:5 OR (II) AN EPOXIDE-ORGANIC CARBOXYLIC ACID REACTION PRODUCT, WHEREIN THE EPOXIDE IS NORMALLY LIQUID AT ROOM TEMPERATURE AND IS DERIVED FROM A POLYHYDRIC PHENOL, A POLYPHENOL OR A BISPHENOL, WITH (A") AN AMINE OR (B") AN AMINO-PEROXIDE REACTION PRODUCT (B) MIXING SAID REACTION PRODUCT WITH A WATER-INSOLUBLE ORGANIC SOLVENT AND SURFACE-ACTIVE DISPERSING AGENT, THE RESULTING MIXTURE CONTAINING FROM 0.5 TO 5% BY WEIGHT OF SAID REACTION PRODUCT BASED ON THE TEXTILE TO BE TREATED (C) IMPREGNATING THE TEXTILE WITH SAID MIXTURE AND THEREAFTER DRYING THE TREATED TEXTILE AND HEATING AT 40 TO 200*C TO FIX THE COATING. 